PAPUA New Guinea Hunters coach Michael Marum knows that the opening rounds of this year’s Queensland Cup will be tougher than their debut season as the side gears up for their second assault on Australia’s best second tier competition.Marum and his coaching staff are focused on developing the talented players brought into the squad for the season to blend in with the experienced players from 2014.Despite losing six top line players last year the door is still open for Wartovo Puara Junior and ThompsonTeteh, who are halfway through a six-week train and trial arrangement with National Rugby League premiers South Sydney.“We have named a 26-man squad, depending on Warts and Thompson’s trial with South Sydney,” Marum said. “With the addition of the new players identified throughout 2014 we have a very strong and talented squad.“It’s fantastic that some of our playershave gone on to trial with NRL sides and it now gives the next crop of players a chance to step up and take the opportunity they have been given.“The competition for spots is intense and we have seen a real lift in the quality of training,” the former Kumul said.“We have worked very hard in the off-season and I know the boys are looking forward to our first trial game against Ipswich on February 21.”The 41-year-old said the club had a full preparation and it is showing.“The boys from last year are bigger, stronger and fitter. “They have that experience now from a full season in the competition and know what to expect. “The new guys have adapted well and are training the house down. “We have a very big, strong, talented squad with a number of players who can play different positions. “It’s a new-look squad but one I am very excited about.”The Hunters player losses in 2014 were: Gary Lo (Gateshead, UK), Jason Tali (Gateshead, UK), Mark Mexico (released), Wartovo Puara Jr (South Sydney), Thompson Teteh (South Sydney), David Loko (released), Tiger Emere (released), Gonzella Urakusie (released), Noel Joel (released), Dion Aiye (Whitehaven, UK).The Hunters 2015 season launch will take place on Feb 28 in Port Moresby. Special guests include NRL personality Phil Gould.The Hunters play the Souths Logan Magpies at Davis Park, Brisbane, on Sunday, March 8.Hunters: Adex Wera, Adam Korave, Brandy Peter, Edward Goma, Esau Siune, Geroge Benson, Israel Eliab, Lawrence Tu’u, Noel Zemming, Roger Laka, Sebastian Pandia, Timothy Lomai, William Minoga, Kato Ottio, Ase Boas, Stargoth Amean, Warren Glare, Philemon Kimisive, Henry Wan, David Lapua, Ate Bina Wabo, Jay Jay Garrison, Bland Abavu, Enock Maki, Wartovo Puara*, Thompson Teteh*.NB: * Pending the South Sydney six-week trial. The National

Papua New Guinea star Lega Siaka has been named in the Prime Minister's XI side captained by Michael Hussey.

Siaka, 22, is contracted to the Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash League and chairman of selectors Rod Marsh said "his selection highlights PNG's growth as a cricketing nation".

"Lega scored a century for Papua New Guinea in their first ever one-day international series in November when they defeated Hong Kong, and he is a confident young batsman who will excite the fans," Marsh said.

The team will play England in a one-dayer at Manuka Oval on Wednesday next week and also includes returning paceman Pat Cummins and Glenn Maxwell.

"Pat has been in excellent form bowling fast for the Sydney Thunder this summer, while Glenn can electrify the crowd with his daring and aggressive stroke play," Marsh said.

The team has a decidedly western feel with five of the 12-man squad representing Western Australia at some level.

The youngest member of the team, Jake Doran, will be the team's wicketkeeper despite the presence of Victorian gloveman Peter Handscomb.

"I think we all realise what a great talent Jake is, and his selection will provide another opportunity for him to continue his development," Marsh said.

PACIFIC Games Organising Committee chief executive officer Peter Stewart says preparations for the event is progressing well and will be completed on time.Stewart said the trend of development progress showed that there was enough time for the venues projects’ completion.“If you go around the games venues, you will see the amazing work that is going on and the work is progressing well,” Stewart said.“We have great confidence that the venues are going to be completed before the Games begin.”Stewart said the Pacific Games Council headed by Vidya Lakhan would visit Port Moresby, in February, to see the progress of the final preparations.Stewart said 28 sports were confirmed for the Games but the entries would be confirmed at a later date.“The final entries for all the sports does not happen until 45 days out from the Games, which is where any last changes to the programmes might be made,” Stewart said.“That is generally to do with preliminary prep for sports like athletics and swimming but entry by number occurs in the middle of January — which is when we will know exactly which teams (countries) are competing in which events.”

ANOTHER franchise from Central, the Central Roosters, have expressed their interest to play in the 2015 Papua New Guinea National Rugby League Digicel Cup competition.It is the second franchise from the province to submit their expression of interest to the PNGNRL board. The other one is the Central Chiefs.The major sponsor and owner of the franchise will be the Central provincial government.It will cost the Roosters an estimated K1.5 million to participate in the Digicel Cup.PNGNRL Digicel Cup chairman Sudhir Guru was presented the bid submission by interim board secretary Gwaibo Mairi last week.Mairi said the Southern Confederation is pushing for the Central Roosters’ inclusion in the 2015 Digicel Cup.He said the confederation fully supported the Roosters entry bid to involve more Papuan rugby league players in the country’s best competition. A majority of the players will come from Central and others from other Southern Region provinces.The Central Roosters board of directors are chairman Varigini Badira, deputy chairman Gei Raga, directors Evele Kala, Raho Kevau, Anna Solomon, Vicky Mossin, Cornelius Soagai, Jack Deia, Hoko Asi, Iamo Vere and Dairi Kovae.Qualified officials will be selected and appointed to fill the coach, trainers, manager, doctor and physio-therapist positions.The board will determine an attractive incentive package for both players and officials once the bid is accepted.The Roosters home will be at Wagula Park in Aroma Coast, Abau and Kwikila Oval, Rigo, Central, and the facilities will be upgraded to Digicel Cup standards.But it is unlikely the Digicel Cup will be expanded to 12 teams in 2015, according to PNG NRL general manager Hubert Warupi.Warupi confirmed receiving bids from both franchises but said the league’s executive would encourage the parties to sit down and discuss a merger in order consolidate the development of the province’s associations under one team.“At this stage we have received interest from two groups but we would prefer if it was one bid,” Warupi said. “The Digicel Cup will not be expanded to involve more than 10 teams in 2015.“It would make more sense for the Central franchises to merge in order for their bid to have a better chance of success.

Papua New Guinea have qualified for next year's ICC World Twenty20 Cricket Qualifier after defending their East Asia Pacific title in Lismore, New South Wales at the weekend.The Barramundi's and chief rivals Vanuatu went into Sunday's decisive round-robin match with six wins each from as many matches.Vanuatu won the toss and elected to bat but struggled throughout before ending their 20 overs on just 96 for 9.Tony Ura then struck a six off the opening ball of PNG's run-chase as they comfortably reached their target with seven wickets and almost eight overs to spare.Barramundi's coach Dipak Patel says he's alreadt looking ahead to next year."It's my job I suppose to sit down now and start planning. I didn't want to get too far ahead of myself but I can now - I can sleep quite comfortably tonight, and I will start planning tomorrow. Very much so it's a case of getting them ready to go to the next step - and it's a big step - and I think they themselves realise [that]. We've had a great sort of three, four weeks now and I think that belief is there now, which wasn't there, they're playing as a squad".Meanwhile Fiji defeated the Philippines in their final game to finish third overall while Samoa beat Indonesia to seal fourth place and Japan edged the Cook Islands, who were the only team that failed to win a game.

THE SP PNG Hunters will start their 2015 campaign with a four-week off-season training camp this Saturday in Kokopo.The players will break to celebrate Christmas and new year with their families before returning on January 3, 2015, to prepare for their second season in the Intrust Super Cup competition. The 2015 competition will kick off on March 7.In a new 14-team format with the inclusion of the Townsville Blackhawks into the Intrust Super Cup, each team will have 11 home and away draw with a "country round" featured. The SP PNG Hunters country round will be played in PNG giving them home ground advantage.The team made a memorable debut this year creating quite a stir, unfortunately missing out on a top-five spot by a single point. Many loyal fans hope they go one step further in season 2015 in a new six-team finals format.The club will undertake one pre-season trial against the Jets in Ipswich on Saturday February 21. The SP PNG Hunters will launch their season at a function in Port Moresby on Saturday February 28 ahead of the opening weekend of the Intrust Super Cup action.The majority of the squad from the inaugural season has been retained, with 20-year-old winger/centre Kato Ottio added for the 2015 season.Head coach Michael Marum said he was excited about the upcoming season."We have a longer preparation than last year with a fairly settled squad that knows what to expect. I’m excited about the new players coming in and they have a chance to put their hands up to be included in our final squad for 2015."We will work hard in the four-week period and again in January to be fitter, stronger and faster than last year. There will certainly be plenty of competition for placing, which is a healthy position for a club to be in," Marum said.

Papua New Guinea completed a clean sweep of their first ever One Day International series against Hong Kong, with a 3 wicket victory with just 4 balls remaining at Townsville's Tony Ireland Stadium.20-year-old Lega Siaka was the hero for PNG, becoming the first man from his country to make an ODI century.Speaking after the match Siaka described the win as one of the proudest moments of his life.Vani Vagi Morea was also instrumental in the win backing up his half century from the first ODI with a clutch 65 not out.Teenager Norman Vanua was the pick of the PNG bowlers with 4 wickets, including the crucial breakthroughs of both Irfan Ahmed and Jamie Atkinson.Scores:Hong Kong 261 all out, 49.3 overs (B Hayat 55, A Rath 51; N Vanua 4-60, W Gavera 3-45)Papua New Guinea 264-7, 49.2 overs (L Siaka 109, V Morea 65*; N Ahmed 2-38)Papua New Guinea won by 3 wickets.

The PNGRFL releases the following statement in regards to the Player Movement Issue. The PNGRFL through the Team Kumul and the PNG Hunters program are creating a pathway to develop our young sportsman from Papua New Guinea to play rugby league at the highest level and competitions and to improve and raise the standard of the players, officials and the game in general in PNG. The Chairman of the PNGRFL Mr. Sandis Tsaka said, "The PNGRFL would like to make it clear that the Hunters Program is not a destination but a pathway for the launching of the cream of our local talent to get recognized at the International Level. Through the Hunters program, we are making available the best local PNG talent for NRL and International scouts so that we have more PNGians playing at high level international competitions." "PNGRFL and the Hunters programs are aimed at developing talents and footballers who can compete at the International Level. In fact one of the key indicators of the success of the PNGRFL and Hunters programs will be in the number of players that get opportunities to play International football through the program and pathway," Mr Tsaka said. "Players like Wellington, Mexico and now Lo and Tali are testament to the success of the programs we have put in place and the PNGRFL is proud of their achievements". Mr. Tsaka further said, "The PNGRFL would like to congratulate Gary Lo, Jason Tali, Mark Mexico and any others who may have been offered contracts to play overseas. "The PNGRFL respects their decision to play overseas and trusts that they will be great ambassadors of the sport and the country in their endeavours and we wish them all the best", he said. "The PNGRFL and the Hunters programs have prepared for this and know that with the success of the programs would come the departure of our best talent and we are proud of this achievements as we have prepared for this scenario with the All Stars and Confederate programs to identify, nurture and promote the next cream of PNG talent", said Mr. Tsaka.

Gateshead Thunder have confirmed that four players from Papua New Guinea will be joining them in 2015.Gary Lo will be joining from Queensland Cup outfit PNG Hunters, along with his current club-mate Jason Tali.Mark Mexico will be joining from NRL club the Cronulla Sharks, while Charlie Wabo joins from domestic PNG club Mendi Muruks.Thunder coach Stanley Gene is delighted that four players from his homeland will be coming to England to test their arms.“I know from my own playing days just how much rugby league talent we have back home in Papua New Guinea," said the former Hull KR star."Many of those guys go on to ply their trade at the top level in Australia but we want to give them an opportunity to develop here in the UK."The four guys we’re bringing in from PNG for next season are strong, fast and powerful players who will make a big impact on the league."We’ve done well to sign them and I’m looking forward to working with them all next season."Thunder managing director Keith Christie hopes that the four players can pave a way for more talent from the Pacific to arrive in North East England."The beauty of having someone as high profile as Stan as our head coach is that we can attract some of the best international talents here to Thunder, something that will really help us make those next steps onwards towards where we want the club to be," he said."All four of the guys we’re bringing in are high profile signings and in the case of Gary Lo we’ve beaten off competition from NRL to bring him to Gateshead Thunder."We’re looking forward to welcoming these guys, and a number of others over the coming years to the region, and to building a little outpost of the Pacific here in Papua New Gateshead!"

The Tongan women’s soccer team awoke to a huge surprise on Sunday morning, 26 October, to find that their properties had been stolen overnight at the Queen Emma Lodge in Kokopo.The Tongans, here for the Oceania Football Confederation women’s soccer qualifier currently being staged in the picture-square town of Kokopo in the East New Britain province, are camped at the lodge owned by prominent Tolai businessman Eremas Wartoto.The team had hung their sporting gear on a makeshift clothes line outside their rooms on Saturday night, to dry overnight for wear the next day but were shocked to find their belongings gone the next morning.When speaking to the Assistant Team Manager, Laita Tu’ivailala, who is also the Head of Women’s Soccer in Tonga and General Secretary for Tongan Women in Sports, she revealed that they (the team and team officials) had been told by the liaison officer that Kokopo was a safe and friendly area and were assured that they were in a good place.“We were told it was safe so we did not expect this to happen to us. We thought that nobody would steal from us so we hung our things out to dry. We also had our blue esky-cooler stolen and groceries in a bag outside my room that were purchased earlier that afternoon. I put the bag outside my door with the groceries inside, these were all stolen”, said Tu’ivailala in a phone interview.The assistant team manager stated that the thieves had stolen the team’s esky-cooler, two pairs of running shoes and official Tongan women’s soccer team wear which include - two caps, a total of 18 team Adidas shirts (white in colour), two blue Adidas tops, five black shorts and one blue Puma short, and a bag of groceries.She further revealed that police had visited the team and crime scene area yesterday morning but had yet to get back to the team officials on the progress of their investigation.“We don’t know what’s happening so far. The police haven’t been back to tell us anything. We haven’t heard from anyone about our stolen things”, said Tu’ivailala.But apart from the theft, Tu’ivailala said that they love the place and people, and are enjoying the games so far.Tonga was beaten on Saturday by New Zealand and today’s match saw them draw with Cook Islands one-all. They are now preparing to meet the host nation (PNG) on Wednesday.“We find Kokopo to be a beautiful place with lovely people. Yes, we are shocked by the actions of these thieves because we never expected it from the people here but we still love it here”, said Laita Tu’ivailala. The incident has stemmed public outrage on social media, with many calling upon the owner of the Queen Emma Lodge, Eremas Wartoto, to intervene and find the culprits’ who committed the crime. Wartoto is also owner of Sarakolok West Transport (SWT) Group, airline company Travel Air and hire car company, Travel Car.It is still unknown how the thieves got access to the lodge’s grounds without being seen by staff or security.